Lea County, NM

ZIP 88242

In ZIP 88242, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Triple J Mhp meets every EPA legal limit; 1 contaminant is above health goals, led by lithium at 4.8× the USGS health-based screening level.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 0% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Hollyfrontier Navajo Refining LLC - Lea Refinery (48%), mostly benzene.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 4.8 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 68,073 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 88242

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsD to F
• Parks and nature nearbyA to C
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityA to C
• Pesticide useD to F
• Neighborhood health statusA to D
• Past wildfire impactsA to D
• Past flood impactsA
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsB to C

Based on 5 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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